China's ruling Communist Party is seriously considering a delay in its upcoming five-yearly congress by a few months amid internal debate over the size and makeup of its top decision-making body, sources said, as the party struggles to finalize a once-in-a-decade leadership change.

The two most senior posts, of president and premier, are not considered in much doubt. But any delay in the congress, no matter the official reason, would likely fuel speculation of infighting over the remaining seats in the nine-member politburo standing committee which calls the shots in China.

[....]

Delay could also further unnerve global financial markets whose perception of Chinese politics as a well-oiled machine has already been shaken this year by the extraordinary downfall of an ambitious senior leader, Bo Xilai, in a murder scandal.

The top party leaders are considering a proposal to move the 18th congress, originally scheduled for September or October, to between November and January, three sources said, in a step that has been taken twice before in the past five congresses.

I suspect they are having a huge shake up, after discovering that the up and coming Bo Xilai was a wholly owned subsidiary of George Soros, and came close to giving him nation changing influence in their politburo.

The impact would be comparable to discovering that the US Secretary of State was an Iranian spy. Bricks would be pooped and heads would roll all over the place. But not publicly.

The level of distrust and intrigue must be sky high in China right now.

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